Olives trees sustainable irrigation model using reclaimed water
4 June, 2050
REUTIVAR
Waste water source
The water comes from the wastewater treatedment of Montilla (Cordoba).
Distribution System
After treatment, the water is stored in the Tintin water pool. A pumping station extracts the water from this storage and distributes the water to the olive groves. The reclaimed water is applied by underground drip irrigation.
Farming system
Although the irrigators association cultivates fruit trees, vineyards and olive trees, only the olive trees are irrigated with reclaimed water.
Waste water treatment description
Nutrient removal : none
Pesticide removal : none
Disinfection : UV disinfection along with nanofiltration
Suspended solids removal : none
Other : The effluent from Montilla’s wastewater plant undergoes a water treatment with decantation among others. Within the Reutivar project an optimisation of the treatment units will be performed in order to improve the water quality going to the Titin storage pool. Furthermore, ultrasound will be used to control the microalgae in the storage pool.
Capacity
In Andalusia the total amount of reclaimed water allowed for irrigation in the Guadalquivir area amounts 20hm³. This is only for the irrigation of olive trees. Another 20 hm³ is allowed in the Mediterranean area for the irrigation of golf courts and greenhouses.
Extent of the agricultural beneficiaries
Starting in the growing season of 2019, 635 hectares of olive trees have access to reclaimed water. This envolves 110 farmers.
Costs
Cost related with reclaimed water operations is estimated in € 254,980.
Type of agreement
The farmers are grouped in the irrigation communitiy 'Comunidad de Regantes del Tintín'
Scientific results
Alcaide Zaragoza,C., Fernández Garcia, I., González Perea, R., Camacho Poyato, E. & Rodríguez Díaz, J. (2019) REUTIVAR: Model for Precision Fertigation Scheduling for Olive Orchards Using Reclaimed Water. Water 2019, 11(12), 2632
Additional information
The Reutivar project develops a mobile application in order to advise farmers in real time about the optimal irrigation rates using reclaimed water for the olive groves. This aims to maximize the efficiency and the use of water and fertilizers.
